Mites on Chickens! Please HELP!

[kenzier093]

I just found mites at the vent area on ALL of my chickens and I was just up there dusting them with the garden and poultry dust powder. I apply that on them about every month, but they still keep coming back. Do any of you know if TSC carries anything that should work? (at a reasonable price).

 

[LittleRedCoop53]

I just went out and bought a huge bag of Diatomaceous Earth (fossil shell flour) feed grade, it wasn't cheep.... because i was told i should be using it on my chickens, in their food, in their bedding etc. for bugs and parasites. So as a preventive (hens don't have mites or anything as of yet), but i sprinkled it all over anyway.
Now i'm reading that DE is useless.....great....now i have this huge bag of DE .....i heard it kills slugs and snails too...is that not true either..... I wonder why some chicken owners swear by it.....if it doesn't work??? Just wanted a natural preventative....like i said it wasn't cheep.

 

[Krazy4Chicks]

kenzier093 -- maybe try applying the Poultry Dust more often (like once every week) so that you can get it under control. Probably what is happening is that the eggs are hatching between your application times. I've used the Poultry Dust and it cleared up my mite problem. But I clean out the coop bedding (pine shavings) every week and dust inside of the coop and nesting boxes each time to help keep it under control. But if you are having an infestation problem, I would recommend that you dust your birds and coop weekly until you get it under control.

LittleRedCoop53 -- I think the DE is fine if your birds or coop isn't already infested with bugs, so I'd continue using it. Just be sure that you check your birds periodically (especially if you see them shake their heads) for bugs.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I also have honey bee and I also use Sevin dust. Have yet to see one bee trying to work a chicken's vent for nectar. When or if I ever do I will get rid of both my chickens and my bees.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I just found mites at the vent area on ALL of my chickens and I was just up there dusting them with the garden and poultry dust powder. I apply that on them about every month, but they still keep coming back....

Dust your birds, and apply a use used motor oil and Pyrethrum mix to the roost poles, cracks, and wooden joints in the coop structure. This is intended to kill, deny refuge, banish, and prevent the return of Northern Fowl (aka Red Chicken) mites. Before treating for any external chicken parasite first determine what mite, tick, flea, or louse it is your treating for and act accordingly.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

From Egg to maturity Mites need 4 days. Crazy fast life cycle. That means most remedies will need a repeat every 4 days to keep up. Mites also use the coop as their habitat as well as the birds. Many coops are painted inside with a safe barn paint or white wash. Lice life cycle is about every 9 days. I would go 3 runs on premetherin powder (Poultry dust) I have the Pour-on Ivermectin and it has worked for us. But I understand and have been told quite vehemently that it's not suppose to work at all. I can't explain it, but it seems to have helped us and another poultry keeper in my area. I think there is much to do with resistance and over-use of this product. I will rotate.

I've also sprinkled a little premetherin powder in my dusting bin of wood ashes.

Here is a great article on dealing with Poultry mites.

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/2-5/laura_e_john/

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Has any body put Neem oil to the test for their wood roosts, etc... in the coop. It's not suppose to kill the bugs but suppose to stop their reproductive cycle... any experience with using this and results would be appreciated as I'm contemplating getting a jug for preventive measure this season and into fall. I don't want to deal with cooties again this winter, if I don't have to.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I guess I assumed that the mites always bite -- is that not correct? I know that they were jumping off and biting me on my arms when we were dusting the tops of the heads with the DE. Is the Ivermectin dosage of 1/4 cc for Silkies and 1/2 cc for standards correct? Or should I have used more? And when could I or should I repeat the Ivermectin?

A piece of sticky paper and a magnifying glass may be in order. I am unawares of any mite species that jumps, or that'll bite a human. Before going any further identify your pest then treat your chickens and/or their premises accordingly.